Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1887-01-20

tine spirit--a cross between these two
magnificent breeds would produce good
farm horse, or perhaps What would be
still better, cross between a half bred
Norman and full bred Cleveland Bay /;
We would secure the color, the spirit
and fine style of the Cleveland Bay, and
the well rounded and compact form and
mild disposition and docility OF the Nor
man. suspect the farmer would be
proud of this kind of horse on the farm,
and would not be ashamed TO drive him
to town.
Now, having secured the right kind of
hOTse-or rather cOlt--the next import
ant consideration is his care and treat
ment, and. in fact, full as important as
toe breeding. You may make misera-
ble ruDt out Of the finest bred colt in the
world, by exposure, neglect, or improper
or starvation Tstions. The colt should
be well fed, on good, wholesome, nutri-
tious food, and kept constantly growing
until it arrives at maturity. The future
horse depends largely on the care and
treatment of the colt. The horse is a
very sociable and companionable ami
NAL; he Is not slow to make friends and
form attachments--you can, BY kind
and gentle treatment show the horse
that you are bis friend, and be will soon
become attached to sou, and will be ca
silly taught and controlled or you may,
bs harsh, wicked and illnatured treat
me6t, make the horse very disagreea-
BILE animal to work with; treat him
kindly, and he will cheerfully respond to
any reasonable demand of his master.
The horse should be the pet animal on
the farm. will not dstrsct from the
merits of any of our domestic an
imals- all are useful and profitable on
the farm. and it is the farmers duty
both for humanity's sake and for pecu-
mary profit to make all his domestic an
imals comfortable by means of shelter
and food. But the horse has an extra
claim on his master. All other domestic
animals are dependent oD the horse for
= living. In the summer season, while
other animals are grazing in the luxuri-
ant pastures and lying in the shade,
resting, ruminatiDg, nothing to do but
eat aud drink and enjoy themselves, the
noble horse Is telling at tue plow or
in the dusty corn6e'd, or sweltering un-
der a scOrching July sun, in the har-
vest field, producing and preparing
winter supply of grain and provender
fer himself and the rest of the animal
kingdom. The horse, then, is entitled to
extra consideration ON the part of his
master. Give him the best of the grain,
hay and fodder. While we should en-
deavor to keep him economically, we
should also study to practice scienti>
tic aud humane method of feeding the
farm horse. His appetite is not as tickle
as that of man, yet there is no doubt
that his welfare demands a variety of
food, dependent somewhat on the season
and the character of his employment.
In winter, when the farm horse is COM
idle. corn is good grain ra-
ton, as it generates more heat, and con-
keeps the system warmer than
other grain would-but If we feed corn,
We should nol feed timothy hay the two
together being too heating and too con-
5tipatiDg, especially for an idle horse;
corn and fodder or corn and bright ear
ly cut W heat straw make q better eoms
bination for winter feed, and this should
be varied occasionally.
The horse is, by nature, very active
and energetic animal; to keep him con-
lined in stable much of the time, with
out exercise, is violation of the laws of
nature. He should be turned out to run
and pla7, and stretch his limbs and ex>
pand his lungs, every day, if the wealth
or is at all suitable. The horse will not
suffer with cold, even with mercury at
zero in clear and dry weather, but is bet
ter of being out part of each day; be
should always have shelter from storms
and at night, so that be may have a
warm place to lie down. He should not
be required to lie on bare boards; always
keep the floor we'll bedded with sttaW,
day time and night. if the horse is in.
Soon as the stable ia cleaned in the
sprinkle a shoyelful of dry
earth in each stall; it is a perfec: deo>
iorizer and absorbent of noxious gases
then spread straw litter over it, thereby
making comfortable and healthy place
for the horse, and save much more valu-
able manure. A farmer should not sell
any straw at the ruling prices. unless he
has more than he can use for feed and
abundant bedding. This rule might be
3 little hard on the doctors horses, but
we are not advocating their claims to-
lay, but only considering the interests
Of the farmers horse. At the approach
Of spring the horse should be prepared
for the srduous labors of the season. In
February he should have one feed day
Of oats and hay at pight-then in March
Dr. April,as soon as the field work begins,
he should have three feeds day-one
Of corn, one of oats, and one of chopped
mill feed, mixed with cut hay or straw.
This he will greatly relish, and it will
have good sanitary effect on the sys'
EN- AS the warm weather advances,
the corn ration and increase
he oat ration gradually, until the corn
Is entirely eliminated, and he is on a
full ration of oats. Oats is a muscle>
forming feed, and is not so conducive to
lat and heat, and is therefore the best
grain ration for the farm horse in sum.
ner.
The last branch of this subject is the
treatment of the farmers horse. We can
not give any iron-c clad rules on this
branch OF the subject. The farmer must
exercise his Judgment, governed by an
educated conscience, and regulate the
strength, the character of the work, and
The state of the weather. "A merci
ful man is merciful to his beast" We
should remember that tue horse was the
rift of the Great Creator, to be used in
gratitude and kindness, according to bis
strength and the limits of humanity.
Do not overload him or work him be-
7ond his powers of endurance; he is
faithful servant, and will kill himself to
10 his masters bidding. Work the horse
II such u way that he will always be in
rood spirits, and feel well and look well,
Ind he will do still more if necessary.
Many a noble and faithful horse has died
n the harness, by reason of the unreas
,nsble and exscIing task of q con.
cienceless driver. A horse cannot rem
Ter a reason for exemption he cannot
rive soft answer to turn away wrath.
He tolls patiently on,mutsly and meek
y endureth he the crushing blow; that
!. A,ah n, a nr "a hia hoa ~ nj